A: Hi, Lucy, shall we go to swim after school?
B: I'd like to, but I have to reply to my English teacher's letter. She has gone to America.
A: You mean Susan?
B: Yes.
A: Why did she go back home? There are still some weeks left before the vacation.
B: Her father died of cancer a week ago and so she had to go back for her father's funeral.
A: I see. I am sorry to hear that. Lucy, do you have any time now?
B: Yes, Tom. What can I do for you?
A: I want to write a letter to my friend Bob. He went back to England yesterday and left his address for me, but I'm not sure how to write it.
B: OK. You know, English letter writing is different from Chinese writing. You should write your address in the top right-hand corner, and write the date immediately below your address. Today is 28th March 2002 so you should write the date below your address.
A: That's really so different. We usually write the sender's address at the bottom of the letter, or write it on the left corner of the envelope.
B: Yes, that's right. Remember, don't write your name before your address.
A: Where shall I write my name?
B: You should write it at the end of the letter.
A: I see.
B: Then, you should write the recipient's name and address on the left-hand side of the page.
A: So I should write Bob's name and his address on the left-hand side?
B: Yes. That is the formal way when you write business letters or official letters. But you don't need to write Bob's name and his address in an informal letter.
A: Okay. What else?
B: You must use Dear Sir or Dear Madam only when you don't know the person's name.
A: How do I begin when I write to Bob?
B: You should use his name directly. In the custom of English letter writing, don't begin with Dear friend.
A: I see. After that I can start my writing. Is that right?
B: Yes, you should begin the letter on the left-hand side, a little way inside the margin. At the end of your letter, write a short final sentence on a separate line.
A: What should I write for the last sentence?
B: Usually people write like this: I'm looking forward to hearing from you soon, or I hope to hear from you soon. Then, end with Yours faithfully if you began with Dear Sir or Madam. In formal letters if you begin with Dear Mr. X, you should end with Yours sincerely.
A: I see. Don't use Dear Sir or Madam with Yours sincerely or Dear Mr. X with Yours faithfully. But what shall I use for Bob's letter?
B: You can use Yours, Best wishes, or Love in informal letters depending on how well you know the person.
A: Thank you very much for the help.
B: With pleasure. I have to go now. See you soon.
A: Good-bye.